Pressure Washer Safety: 7 Essential Tips for Beginners

A Beginners Guide To Pressure Washer Safety

Everybody knows that when it comes to keeping things clean, pressure washers always come up on top. When you first use a pressure washer it can be easy to get carried away, but it is essential that you always practice excellent pressure washer safety.

They are exceptionally safe tools when used correctly, but if you do not know what you’re doing then it’s easy to make a mistake, and this can compromise your safety.

You’ll need to be considering whether you have the right equipment for the job, whether there are any dangers present in the area you want to pressure wash, or if there are any other safety hazards in the way of the cleaning job.

This can all be a bit overwhelming for beginners – we were there once, and we all start somewhere! Don’t worry though – we’ve got you covered.

We have compiled a list of our top 7 Essential Tips for Pressure Washer Safety so that you don’t have to do the research.

Read this thoroughly and feel free to take notes – we guarantee that they will help you keep your pressure washing experience safe and satisfying.

Tip 1: High Pressure Washer Can Cause Injury

Firstly, we’re going to state the obvious – pressure washers make use of very high pressure, and this can cause injury.

With the average pressure washer outputting a whopping 2500 PSI (pounds per square inch), anything in its way will be subject to a pretty aggressive force, which could result in items being knocked over onto people, and all manner of other things.

However, this is really easy to avoid – simply make a risk assessment and ensure you are aware of any possible dangers and that everybody stays well away from the pressure washer when in use.

Tip 2: Wear Safety Clothing

In addition to pressure washers being powerful enough to damage things obstructing its path, the high pressure can also be very abrasive to human skin.

If pressure washers can remove awful stains in your kitchen, imagine how bad this could be if you have direct contact on your skin! Have no fear though, because the pressure washing experts provide excellent PPE to prevent this from becoming a problem.

By wearing durable and protective gaiters, aprons, gloves and boots, you can be sure that the enormous water output will not come into contact with your skin, rendering the pressure washer completely harmless.

Tip 3: Read the Manual Before You Start

If you’re as passionate about cleaning as us, you’ll probably be overwhelmed with excitement when you purchase a pressure washer – so excited that you want to power it up right away!

Not so fast – there will be of time to play with your pressure washer in the future, but for now, you should ensure that you read the manual, cover to cover.

This manual will teach you how to make the most out of your pressure washer, how to use the different modes and most importantly, how to do it safely. So, don’t try to be a smarty-pants – RTFM (read the flipping manual!)

Tip 4: Don’t use a Petrol Pressure Washer Indoors

This may seem pretty obvious, but you would be surprised at how many people make this mistake – NEVER use a petrol pressure washer indoors.

There are various reasons for this, and they are all related to the use of petrol. Firstly, if your pressure washer consumed petrol for power then the toxic fumes from this process need to go somewhere, and you certainly don’t want to be exposed to this in your own home!

It would also stink out your house and potentially lead to a fire hazard. So, save the petrol pressure washer for the outdoor jobs – it’s simply not safe under the roof of your house!

Tip 5: Try to avoid using the pinpoint jet spray – it is not really needed

Pressure washers use very high levels of water pressure to work their magic. They are already extremely powerful and can be damaging to the skin, but this danger is increased when using a pinpoint jet spray.

This often comes as a peripheral to your pressure washer and concentrates all the water pressure into a tiny point, hence the name. This can be useful under specific circumstances but can be really damaging when not used correctly, being so powerful that it can easy cut through soft surfaces!

If you can hold yourself back, save the pinpoint jet spray for the professionals – it is simply unnecessarily powerful for most jobs, and could do more damage than good!

Tip 6: Don’t use a Pressure Washer on a Ladder

When it comes to pressure washing those hard-to-reach places such as roofs and windows, it can be tempting to hop on a ladder to reach the spot.

Stop right there – never use a pressure washer on a ladder, it’s dangerous. Due to the high-pressure output of the tool, you could easy knock the ladder out of place or spray something that could fall and cause all sorts of safety hazards.

Don’t worry though – you can still pressure wash these places, but just ensure that you consult a professional on how to complete the task safely.

Tip 7: Clear the Area of Loose Debris Before Use

One final essential safety tip when it comes to pressure washing is to always remember to clear the area of loose debris before you commence work.

There could be pebbles and other hard debris that could be blasted by the pressure washer, pinging uncontrollably into your French doors or outdoor ornaments!

This could cause huge damage, and it’s easily avoidable – simply assess the area before you whip out the pressure washer and ensure you’ve had a good sweep up.

Final Thoughts

Overall, pressure washers are fantastic tools to reach dazzling heights of cleanliness in your home – but they do present dangers and it’s important that you are aware of them.

However, as long as you read the manual, always assess the risks present and ensure that you take appropriate precautions based on this list, we are positive that your pressure washing experience will be safe, efficient and satisfying.